TWYLA THARP, dam of this year’s Group 1 Nassau Stakes winner and Oaks placed THE FUGUE was the star turn on the opening day of the Tattersalls December Mare Sale, selling for 1,700,000 guineas. Turnover during the first session was up 7% to 11,369,500 guineas for the 186 lots sold whilst the average and median of 61,126 guineas and 30,000 guineas were 3% and 2% respective, although the clearance rose sharply to 81%.

TWYLA THARP, the dam of the Group 1 winner THE FUGUE, was knocked down to French agent Nicholas de Watrigant for 1.7 million guineas after he saw off the Kentucky-based agent David Ingordo and Tomoyuki Nakamura to secure the ten-year-old mare. The daughter of SADLER’S WELLS, who was placed in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes, is a half-sister to the Group 1 winning pair SUMMONER and COMPTON ADMIRAL.

"She is a beautiful mare, the dam of a champion and with the best pedigree in this catalogue," said de Watrigant.

"Her Oasis Dream foal will be retained - my client likes his racing. We have not yet thought about the next stallion, you have to get them bought first!"

Twyla Tharp was sold by Madeline Lloyd-Webber's Kiltinan Castle Stud, the Irish branch of her Watership Down Stud.

December Sale Day 1 Figures:

Catalogued

Offered

Sold

Aggregate

Average

Median

2012

293

229

186

11,369,500

61,126

30,000

2011

279

229

168

10,577,000

62,958

30,500

The Group 3 Irish 1,000 Guineas Trial second SAPPHIRE PENDANT, offered with a covering by SEA THE STARS was knocked down to Pierre-Yves Bureau for 480,000 guineas after he saw off Eaton Sales’ Reilly McDonald for the Bugley Stud consigned mare.

"We've been trying for a long time to get into this family, but there have not been many opportunities to do so," said Bureau, stud director for the Wertheimer brothers, after buying SAPPHIRE PENDANT on their behalf.

"We have not decided which stallion she will visit, and we may not send her straight to France as she has a very early cover.

"Of course, she is In-foal to Sea The Stars, which is good."

The DANEHILL DANCER mare is a grand-daughter of the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks winner BLUSH WITH PRIDE, also grand-dam of fellow Kentucky Oaks winner and Champion RAGS TO RICHES, as well as the G1 winners JAZIL, PEEPING FAWN and THEWAYYOUARE.

NESSINA, a half-sister to TANTINA, dam of this year’s Group 1 winner CITYSCAPE and Group 2 winner BATED BREATH, was knocked down to Tony Nerses for 300,000 guineas after he saw off New York-based agent John McCormack. Consigned from John Troy, the four year old daughter of HENNESSY was consigned in foal to INVINCIBLE SPIRIT and bought on behalf of Imad Al Sagar and Salah Al Homaizi’s Blue Diamond Stud.

Nerses bought a total of five mares for 703,000 guineas on the opening day for the former owners of the Derby winner AUTHORIZED who have recently purchased Chevington Stud, and plan to rename it Blue Diamond South. The partners' current Blue Diamond Stud, near Bury St. Edmunds, is to be retained and will be named Blue Diamond North.

"She is a beautiful mare," said Nerses. "She has a wonderful page and she goes straight from here to the new farm.

"She is carrying a colt by Invincible Spirit and he will be retained to race."

NESSINA provided her vendors with a quick profit, having been purchased at last year’s December Mare Sale for 100,000 guineas by Charlie Gordon-Watson.

Rory Matthews outbid agent Henrietta Michael to secure the ARCH mare ROCHITTA for 300,000 guineas. Consigned by Baroda & Colbinstown Studs, ROCHITTA is a half-sister to the Grade 2 winner LORD ADMIRAL and hails from the family of Grade 1 winner ACTION THIS DAY, Group 2 winner PISCO SOUR and Grade 1 winner and Kentucky Derby second BODEMEISTER.

"This is for Mattock Equine," said Matthews, who is manager of Barouche Stud, but purchased this mare for his own bloodstock interests.

"She was my pick of the two days," he added. "There are stallions all the way down the page and she has a commercial family for both Europe and the US - she is by ARCH, a very good broodmare sire in America.

"She is also in foal to HAT TRICK, who has had a Group 1 winner in Europe and in the US.

"She cost more than I had intended, but it is a very strong market and you have to push for what you want.

"She'll go back to Ireland from here and then decide what to do. Her foal might be offered here or in the US."

The Tattersalls December Mare Sale continues at 9.30am on Tuesday, December 4.